'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES.' [‎56] (62/114)

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56 persian gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .—resources and defences.
Town, either by land line or cable, and Kishm Town with Bunder
Abbas by cable ; also to connect Henjamwith the British station
at Bassidu if necessary. (Compare proposal under Bassidu,
p. 52.)
Defence, According to the report made in 1900, already referred to, the
suggested artificial harbour could be defended if strong forts
were built on the island and on the Kishm shore opposite.
The width of the navigable channel is about half a mile.
Nute. —Although the population of Henjam is now small, at
one time the island was densely inhabited, as the extensive ruins
prove.
The two cables which now connect Cape Jashk with Bnshire
both pass through the Straits of Ormuz, S. of Henjam. Previous to
1885 there was only one cable, and up to 1881, this cable lay in
the channel N. of Henjam Island, on which from 1869 to 1881
there was a station of the Indo-Europeon Telegraph Department.
An opinion was expressed in the report of 1900, already
referred to, that Henjam Sound would make a good naval station
if properly equipped with buildings, &c,, on shore, as it is within
easy patrolling distance of the entrance of the Gulf and the
adjacent harbours of Hormuz and Bunder Abbas.*
After the expedition of 1819, the troops originally quartered
at Kishm Town were removed for a time to Salak Point on
Kishm Island, about 6 miles W. of Henjam, previous to their
transfer to Bassidu in 1821.
LARAK ISLAND.
{See Admiralty Chart 2,837 a (with inset A small map or other image enclosed within the margin of a larger map, map sheet, or larger image; or papers placed inside a book or archival volume. ).)
Larak Island is situated at the entrance of the Gulf, about
7 miles S.E. of Kishm Town.
There is an anchorage off the old Dutch fort on the N. shore,
but it is only sheltered from the Shamal. For this reason, the
island appears to be of little value from a naval point of view,
notwithstanding its commanding position.
HOKMTJZ (or ORMUZ) ISLAND.
(See Admiralty Charts 2,837 a (with inset A small map or other image enclosed within the margin of a larger map, map sheet, or larger image; or papers placed inside a book or archival volume. ), and 753.)
The island lies on the N. side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. entrance,
about 10 miles N.N.E. of Kishm Town, and a little over 3 miles
from the Persian coast. In shape, it is roughly circular, with a
diameter of about 4 miles.
* The report of June 1903 referred to in the footnote on previous page
considers that Henjam itself (apart from its strategic position) is not at
all suitable for a defended naval establishment.